CHENNAI: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal on Friday ordered the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board And Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drugs department to conduct sample tests in all 92 private packaged drinking water units in and around Chennai. The units are being operated without valid licences from statutory authorities for several years.
The bench, comprising Justice M Chokkalingam and R Nagendran, passed the interim order on petitions filed by the South India Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers' Association and others against the orders served by the pollution control board to close the units and disconnect power supply.
"We are not against packaged drinking water industry. If there is a procedure, why can't you follow," the bench observed. When the counsels representing for units said the central ground water authority's clearance, a statutory order for extraction of groundwater for commercial use, could not be obtained since Tamil Nadu Groundwater Extraction Act 2003 was yet to be notified, the bench observed: "So will you be continuing for a century without licence."
In its action taken report, the member secretary, pollution control board said there were 124 packaged drinking water units in and around Chennai. Of this, only 24 units have got consent orders to operate. In all, 92 units were served with closure orders and disconnection of power supply orders. Against this, electricity board has disconnected power supply to 78 units.
The bench, comprising Justice M Chokkalingam and R Nagendran, passed the interim order on petitions filed by the South India Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers' Association and others against the orders served by the pollution control board to close the units and disconnect power supply.
"We are not against packaged drinking water industry. If there is a procedure, why can't you follow," the bench observed. When the counsels representing for units said the central ground water authority's clearance, a statutory order for extraction of groundwater for commercial use, could not be obtained since Tamil Nadu Groundwater Extraction Act 2003 was yet to be notified, the bench observed: "So will you be continuing for a century without licence."
In its action taken report, the member secretary, pollution control board said there were 124 packaged drinking water units in and around Chennai. Of this, only 24 units have got consent orders to operate. In all, 92 units were served with closure orders and disconnection of power supply orders. Against this, electricity board has disconnected power supply to 78 units.
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